Born: February 20, 1927
Birthplace: Miami, Florida
Died:
Location of death:
Cause of death:
Gender: Male
Religion: Catholic
Ethnicity: Black
Occupation: Actor/Director/Writer/Diplomat
Executive summary: Sidney Poitier grew up in the small village of Cat Island, Bahamas, (though he was born in Miami during a mainland visit by his parents). His father, a poor tomato farmer, moved the family to the capital, Nassau, when Poitier was eleven. It was there that he first encountered cinema.
Father: Reginald James Poitier
Mother: Evelyn (née Outten)
Wife: Joanna Shimkus (m. 23 January 1976, 2 children)
Juanita Hardy (29 April 1950 – 1965) (divorced), 4 children
Children: Four daughters by his first marriage and two by his second: Beverly, Pamela, Sherri, Gina, Anika, Sydney Tamiia
Highlights:
In 1963 he became the first black man to win an Academy Award, for his role as Homer Smith in Lilies of the Field (1963).
First black actor to place autograph, hand, and footprints in the cement at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (June 23, 1967).
Appointed an Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1974.
Received the Screen Actors Guild’s Life Achievement Award.
Received the Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama (August 2009).
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